THE
day after our public dinner I determined to leave my hospitable
friends at Little Rock, and cross Arkansas to Fulton on the Red
River, a distance of about one hundred and twenty miles. They wanted
me to stay longer; and the gentleman who had the reputation of being
the best marksman in those parts was most particularly anxious that
we should have another trial of skill; but says I to myself,
"Crockett, you've had just about glory enough for one day, so
take my advice, and leave well enough alone." I declined
shooting, for there was nothing at all to be gained by it, and I
might possibly lose some little of the reputation I had acquired. I
have always found that it is a very important thing for a man who is
fairly going ahead, to know exactly how far to go, and when to stop.
Had "the Government" stopped before he meddled with the
constitution, the deposites, and "taking the responsibility,"
he would have retired from office with almost as much credit as he
entered upon it, which is as much as any public man can reasonably
expect. But the General is a whole team, and when fairly started,
will be going ahead; and one might as well attempt to twist a streak
of lightning into a true lover's knot as to stop him.

Finding
that I was bent on going, for I became impatient to get into Texas,
my kind friends at Little Rock procured me a good horse to carry me
across to Red River. There are no bounds to the good feeling of the
pioneers of the west; they consider nothing a trouble that will
confer a favour upon a stranger that they chance to take a fancy to:
true, we are something like chestnut burs on the outside, rather
prickly if touched roughly, but there's good fruit within.

My
horse was brought to the door of the tavern, around which many of the
villagers were assembled. The drum and fife were playing what was
intended for a lively tune, but .the skin of the drum still hung as
loose as the hide of a fat man far gone in a consumption; and the
fife had not yet recovered from the asthma. The music sounded
something like a fellow singing, "Away with melancholy," on
the way to the gallows. I took my leave of the landlord, shook hands
with the showman, who had done more than an average business, kissed
his wife, who had recovered, and bidding farewell to all my
kind-hearted friends, I mounted my horse, and left the village,
accompanied by four or five gentlemen. The drum and fife now appeared
to exert themselves, and made more noise than usual, while the crowd
sent forth three cheers to encourage me on my way.

I
tried to raise some recruits for Texas among my companions, but they
said they had their own affairs to attend to, which would keep them
at home for the present, but no doubt they would come over and see us
as soon as the disturbances should be settled. They looked upon Texas
as being part of the United States, though the Mexicans did claim it;
and they had no doubt the time was not very distant when it would be
received into the glorious Union.

My
companions did not intend seeing me farther on my way than the
Washita river, near fifty miles. Conversation was pretty brisk, for
we talked about the affairs of the nation and Texas; subjects that
are by no means to be exhausted, if one may judge by the long
speeches made in Congress, where they talk year in and year out; and
it would seem that as much still remains to be said as ever. As we
drew nigh to the Washita, the silence was broken alone by our own
talk and the clattering of our horses' hoofs; and we imagined
ourselves pretty much the only travellers, when we were suddenly
somewhat startled by the sound of music. We checked our horses, and
listened, and the music continued. "What can all that mean?"
says I. "Blast my old shoes if I know, Colonel," says one
of the party. We listened again, and we now heard, "Hail,
Columbia, happy land!" played in first-rate style. "That's
fine," says I. "Fine as silk, Colonel, and leetle finer,"
says the other; "but hark, the tune's changed." We took
another spell of listening, and now the musician struck up, in a
brisk and lively manner, "Over the water to Charley."
"That's mighty mysterious," says one; "Can't cipher it
out nohow," says another; "A notch beyant my measure,"
says a third. "Then let us go ahead," says I, and off we
dashed at a pretty rapid gait, I tell you — by no means slow.

As
we approached the river we saw to the right of the road a new
clearing on a hill, where several men were at work, and they running
down the hill like wild Indians, or rather like the office holders in
pursuit of the deposites. There appeared to be no time to be lost, so
they ran, and we cut ahead for the crossing. The music continued all
this time stronger and stronger, and the very notes appeared to speak
distinctly, "Over the water to Charley."

When
we reached the crossing we were struck all of a heap, at beholding a
man seated in a sulky in the middle of the river, and playing for
life on a fiddle. The horse was up to his middle in the water; and it
seemed as if the flimsy vehicle was ready to be swept away by the
current. Still the fiddler fiddled on composedly, as if his life had
been insured, and he was nothing more than a passenger. We thought he
was mad, and shouted to him. He heard us, and stopped his music. "You
have missed the crossing," shouted one of the men from the
clearing. "I know I have," returned the fiddler. "If
you go ten feet farther you will be drowned." "I know I
shall," returned the fiddler. "Turn back," said the
man. "I can't," said the other. "Then how the devil
will you get out?" "I'm sure I don't know: come you and
help me."

The
men from the clearing, who understood the river, took our horses and
rode up to the sulky, and after some difficulty, succeeded in
bringing the traveller safe to shore, when we recognised the worthy
parson who had fiddled for us at the puppet show at Little Rock. They
told him that he had had a narrow escape, and he replied, that he had
found that out an hour ago. He said he had been fiddling to the
fishes for a full hour, and had exhausted all the tunes that he could
play without notes. We then asked him what could have induced him to
think of fiddling at a time of such peril; and he replied, that he
had remarked in his progress through life, that there was nothing in
univarsal natur so well calculated to draw people together as the
sound of a fiddle; and he knew, that he might bawl until he was
hoarse for assistance, and no one would stir a peg; but they would no
sooner hear the scraping of his catgut, than they would quit all
other business, and come to the spot in flocks. We laughed heartily
at the knowledge the parson showed of human natur. — And he was
right.

Having
fixed up the old gentleman's sulky right and tight, and after rubbing
down his poor jaded animal, the company insisted on having a dance
before we separated. We all had our flasks of whisky; we took a drink
all round, and though the parson said lie had had about enough
fiddling for one day, he struck up with great good humour; at it we
went, and danced straight fours for an hour and better. We all
enjoyed ourselves very much, but came to the conclusion, that dancing
wasn't altogether the thing without a few petticoats to give it
variety.

The
dance being over, our new friends pointed out the right fording, and
assisted the parson across the river. We took another drink all
round, and after shaking each other cordially by the hand, we
separated, wishing each other all the good fortune that the rugged
lot that has been assigned us will afford. My friends retraced the
road to Little Rock, and I pursued my journey; and as I thought of
their disinterested kindness to an entire stranger, I felt that the
world is not quite as heartless and selfish as some grumblers would
have us think.

The
Arkansas is a pretty fine territory, being about five hundred and
fifty miles in length from east to west, with a mean width of near
two hundred, extending over an area of about one hundred thousand
square miles. The face of the country from its great extent is very
much diversified. It is pretty well watered, being intersected by the
Arkansas river and branches of the Red, Washita, and White rivers.
The Maserne mountains, which rise in Missouri, traverse Arkansas and
extend into Texas. That part of the territory to the south-east of
the Masernes is for the most part low, and in many places liable to
be overflooded annually. To the north-west of the mountains the
country presents generally an open expanse of prairie without wood,
except near the borders of the streams. The seasons of the year
partake of those extremes of heat and cold, which might be expected
in so great an extent, and in a country which affords so much
difference of level. The summers are as remarkable as is the winters
for extremes of temperature. The soil exhibits every variety, from
the most productive to the most sterile. The forest trees are
numerous and large; such as oak, hickory, sycamore, cotton-wood,
locust, and pine. The cultivated fruit trees are the apple, pear,
peach, plum, nectarine, cherry, and quince; and the various kinds of
grain, such as wheat, rye, oats, barley, and Indian corn, succeed
amazing well. Cotton, Indian corn, flour, peltry, salted provisions,
and lumber, are the staples of this territory. Arkansas was among the
most ancient settlements of the French in Louisiana. That nation had
a hunting and trading post on the Arkansas river as early as the
beginning of the eighteenth century. Arkansas, I rather reckon, will
be admitted as a state into the Union during the next session of
Congress; and if the citizens of Little Rock are a fair sample of her
children, she cannot fail to go ahead.

I
kept in company with the parson until we arrived at Greenville, and I
do say, he was just about as pleasant an old gentleman to travel
with, as any man who wasn't too darned particular could ask for We
talked about politics, religion, and natur, farming and bear hunting,
and the many blessings that an all bountiful Providence has bestowed
upon our happy country. He continued to talk upon this subject,
travelling over the whole ground as it were, until his imagination
glowed, and his soul became full to overflowing; and he checked his
horse, and I stopped mine also, and a stream of eloquence burst forth
from his aged lips, such as I have seldom listened to: it came from
the overflowing fountain of a pure and grateful heart. We were alone
in the wilderness, but as he proceeded it seemed to me as if the tall
trees bent their tops to listen; that the mountain stream laughed out
joyfully as it bounded on like some living thing; that the fading
flowers of autumn smiled, and sent forth fresher fragrance, as if
conscious that they would revive in spring; and even the sterile
rocks seemed to he endued with some mysterious influence. We were
alone in the wilderness, but all things told me that God was there.
That thought renewed my strength and courage. I had left my country,
felt somewhat like an outcast, believed that I had been neglected and
lost sight of but I was now conscious that there was still one
watchful Eye over me; no matter whether I dwelt in the populous
cities, or threaded the pathless forest alone; no matter whether I
stood in the high places among men, or made my solitary lair in the
untrodden wild, that Eye was still upon me. My very soul leaped
joyfully at the thought; I never felt so grateful in all my life; I
never loved my God so sincerely in all my life. I felt that I still
had a friend.

When
the old man finished I found that my eyes were wet with tears. I
approached and pressed his hand, and thanked him, and says I, "Now
let us take a drink." I set him the example, and he followed it,
and in a style too that satisfied me, that if he had ever belonged to
the Temperance society, he had either renounced membership or
obtained a dispensation. Having liquored, we proceeded on our
journey, keeping a sharp look-out for mill seats and plantations as
we rode along.

I
left the worthy old man at Greenville, and sorry enough I was to part
with him, for he talked a great deal, and he seemed to know a little
about every thing. He knew all about the history of the country; was
well acquainted with all the leading men; knew where all the good
lands lay in most of the western states, as well as the cutest clerk
in the Land office; and had traced most of the rivers to their
sources. He was very cheerful and happy, though to all appearances
very poor. I thought that he would make a first-rate agent for taking
up lands, and mentioned it to him; he smiled, and pointing above,
said, "My wealth lies not in this world."

I
mounted my horse, and pushed forward on my road to Fulton. When I
reached Washington, a village a few miles from the Red river, I rode
up to the Black Bear tavern, when the following conversation took
place between me and the landlord, which is a pretty fair sample of
the curiosity of some folks: —

"Good
morning, mister — I don't exactly recollect your name now,"
said the landlord as I alighted.

"It
is indeed somewhat strange that you should forget what you never
knew," says I.

"It
is unaccountable strange. It's what I'm not often in the habit of, I
assure you. I have, for the most part, a remarkably detentive memory.
In the power of people that pass along this way, I've scarce ever
made, as the doctors say, a slapsus slinkum of this kind afore."

"O
Lord, no, sir — I won't do that — I've no ideer of that — not
the least ideer in the world," says he; "I suppose you've
been to the westward afore now?"

"
Well, suppose I have?"

"Why,
on that supposition, I was going to say you must be pretty well —
that is to say, you must know something about the place."

"Eh
heh!" I ejaculated, looking sort of mazed full in his face. The
tarnel critter still went ahead.

"I
take it you're a married man, mister?"

"Take
it as you will, that is no affair of mine," says I.

"Well,
after all, a married life is the most happiest way of living; don't
you think so, mister?" "Very possible," says I.

"I
conclude you have a family of children, sir?" "I don't know
what reason you have to conclude so."

"O,
no reason in the world, mister, not the least," says he; "but
I thought I might just take the liberty to make the presumption, you
know, that's all, sir. I take it, mister, you're a man about my age?"

"Eh
heh!"

"How
old do you call yourself, if I may be so bold?"

"You're
bold enough, the devil knows," says I; and as I spoke rather
sharp, the varment seemed rather staggered, but he soon recovered
himself, and came up to the chalk again.

"No
offence, I hope — I — I — I — wouldn't be thought uncivil by
any means; I always calculate to treat everybody with civility."

"You
have a very strange way of showing it."

"True,
as you say, I ginnerally take my own way in these ere matters. — Do
you practise law, mister, or farming, or mechanicals?"

"Perhaps
so," says I.

"Ah,
I judge so; I was pretty certain it must be the case. Well, it's as
good business as any there is followed now-a-days."

"Eh
heh!" I shouted, and my lower jaw fell in amazement at his
perseverance.

"I
take it you've money at interest, mister?" continued the
varment, without allowing himself time to take breath.

"Would
it be of any particular interest to you to find out?" says I.

"O,
not at all, not the least in the world, sir, I'm not at all
inquisitive about other people's matters; I mind's my own business —
that's my way."

"And
a very odd way you have of doing it too."

"I've
been thinking what persuasion you're of — whether you're a
Unitarian or Baptist, or whether you belong to the Methodisses."

"Well,
what's the conclusion?"

"Why,
I have concluded that I'm pretty near right in my conjectures. Well,
after all, I'm inclined to think they're the nearest right of any
persuasion — though some folks think differently."

"Eh
heh!" I shouted again.

"As
to pollyticks, I take it, you — that is to say, I suppose you — "

"Very
likely."

"Ah!
I could have sworn it was so from the moment I saw you. I have a hack
at finding out a man's sentiments. I dare say, mister, you're a
justice in your own country?"

"And
if I may return the compliment, I should say you're a just ass
everywhere." By this time I began to get weary of his
impertinence, and led my horse to the trough to water, but the darned
critter followed me up.

"Why,
yes," said he, "I'm in the commission of the peace, to be
sure — and an officer in the militia — though between you and I,
I wouldn't wish to boast of it."

My
horse having finished drinking, I put one foot in the stirrup, and
was preparing to mount" Any more inquiries to make?" said
I.

"Why,
no, nothing to speak on," said he. "When do you return,
mister?"

"About
the time I come back," said I; and leaping into the saddle
galloped off. The pestiferous varment bawled after me, at the top of
his voice, —

"Well,
I shall look for ye then. I hope you won't fail to call."

Now,
who in all natur do you reckon the crittur was, who afforded so fine
a sample of the impertinent curiosity that some people have to pry
into other people's affairs? I knew him well enough at first sight,
though he seemed to have forgotten me. It was no other than Job
Snelling, the manufacturer of cayenne pepper out of mahogany sawdust,
and upon whom I played the trick with the coon skin. I pursued my
journey to Fulton, and laughed heartily to think what a swither I had
left poor Job in, at not gratifying his curiosity; for I knew he was
one of those fellows who would peep down your throat just to
ascertain what you had eaten for dinner.

When
I arrived at Fulton, I inquired for a gentleman to whom my friends at
Little Rock had given me a letter of introduction. I was received in
the most hospitable manner; and as the steamboat did not start for
Natchitoches until the next day, I spent the afternoon in seeing all
that was to he seen. I left my horse with the gentleman, who promised
to have him safely returned to the owner; and I took the steamboat,
and started on my way down the Red river, right well pleased with my
reception at Fulton.